Check-punch



(No Model.)

0. UHOUSEM. 011301: PUNCH.

No. 549,670. Patented Nov. 12, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES C. HOUSEM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CHECK- PUNCH.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 549,670, dated November 12, 1895.

Application filed July 30, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. HoUsEM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-Punches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in check punching or perforating devices, and has for its object to provide a punch of simple and economical construction, as more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a check-punch constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, a portion of the upper portion of the punch being broken away to more clearly show the arrangement of the female dies; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the punch on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a suitable base having supporting legs a provided on its opposite sides. This base is adapted to receive and support the bed-plate B of the punch, suchbed-plate being provided with a die-plate I), provided with a number of female dies b, the latter being in the form of numerals running from O to 9 and being also provided with a dollar-mark to precede the numerals to be punched and a letter or blank space to follow the numeral in order to prevent the punching of an additional figure to follow the amount for which the check is drawn.

The bed-plate B is provided with a central longitudinal rib b and mounted upon this rib is an upper die-guiding plate 0, secured to the bed-plate by screws 0, and spaced from the latter by a distance equal to the height of the rib b the space being just sufficient for the insertion of the check between the bedplate and the die-guiding plate.

The opposite edges of the plate C are provided with a series of projections of, with inintervening spaces (1 forming a convoluted surface, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. In each of the projections o is'formed an open- Serial No. 557,569. (Nb model.)

ing 6 for the reception and guidance of the male die E, each male die having a lower cutting-surface corresponding to the contour of the female die above which it is mounted. At the upper end of the male die is a head f, between which and the upper surface of the dieguiding plate 0 is a coiled compression-spring g,normally tending to keep the die in the elevated position, so that a clear space may be had between the bed-plate and the die-guiding plate for the insertion of the check to be punched. Excessive movement of the male die in either direction is prevented by a pin h,projecting from the side of the shank of the die and adapted to a vertical slot or' recess h in the projections c.

Extending longitudinally of the center of the plate 0 is a pivot-bar I, to which is loosely pivoted one end of an operating-lever J, the opposite end of which is preferably provided with an operating-handle by which the lever may be grasped and moved directly over any one of the dies which it is desired to depress and then forced downwardly to effect the punching. This lever is mounted loosely on the pivot-bar I and may be moved to and fro for the full length of the bar and turned rapidly from side to side of the machine to be moved opposite the successive dies which it is desired to operate.

7 As the space between the bed-plate and the upper plate 0 is of considerable depth, it is desirable to provide for the movement of the check in such manner as to effect the punching of the numerals in a straight line on any portion of the surface of the check,and to providefor the adjustment of the check I employ a longitudinalbar L,having a central handle Z, and provided at each end with a section Z, extending at right angles to the main bar and fitting closely to the end of the die-guiding plate 0. The sections Z each have a clownwardly-projecting finger m,and are provided with slots n, through which pass screws n to hold the device in position, so that a check to be punched may be inserted in the space between the bed-plate and the upper plate 0, and by' pulling outwardly on the handle Z the fingers m, which extend down past the space in which the check is inserted, engage with the portions of the check projecting beyond the ends of the plate C,and the check is pulled outwardly in a straight line until the punching-point is reached.

It will be observed that in the punching of successive numerals the previously-punched numeral or a portion of the same can always be seen by the operator through the spaces (1 between the projections c, and it is thus possible to punch the numerals at regular and equidistant intervals.

\Vith a punching device constructed in accordance with my invention the various numerals may be rapidly perforated in the check, and in the event of breakage, which may necessitate repairs, the parts may be very readily disassembled and any new parts or dies may be substituted for those which may be worn out or broken.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The co1nbination,in a check punch,of the bed-plate, B, having a central longitudinal rib, b female die plates, Z), secured thereto, an upper die guiding plate, 0, secured to the rib D in such manner as to form spaces between the bed-plate and the die guiding plate on opposite sides of the rib, a series of projections, 0, provided on the opposite sides of said die guiding plate forming between said projections a series of spaces, (1, male dies, E, guided in said projections,coiled compression springs normally tending to hold said male dies in an elevated position, a centrally situated longitudinal pivot bar, T, and a die operating lever loosely pivoted to and adapted to be moved from side to side and from end to end of the bar to effect the depression of any of the male dies, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the bed-plate having a central longitudinal rib, female die plates secured thereto, an upper die guiding plate secured to such rib,a series of male dies guided in such die guiding plate, compression springs tending to normally hold said male dies in an elevated position, and a check adjusting device comprising a handled bar, L, and guided end sections, 1, having dependinglingers, m, for engagement with the check, substantial] y as specified.

3. The combination in a check puncluof the base, A, the bed-plate, B, having a central longitudinal rib, b female die plates, 11, secured to said bed-plate, an upper die guidingplate, C, securing screws, 0, for fastening said die guiding plate to the bed-plate, projections, c, and intervening spaces, (1, forming a convoluted surface on the opposite edges of the die guiding plate,C,1nale dies,E, adapted to guiding orifices in the projections, a, heads, f, on said male dies, coiled compression springs, 9, extending between the heads, f, and the upper surface of the die guiding plate, pins, 71., projecting from the shanks of the male dies into vertical recesses or slots, 71,, in the proj ections,c,a longitudinal pivot bar,I,au operating lever, J, loosely pivoted to said pivot bar and adapted to be moved over any one of the male dies to be operated, a check ad justiug device comprising a bar, L, having a handle], end sections,l,having slots,n,holding screws, n, extending through said slots, and fingers, m, depending from said end sections, l, and adapted to engage with the check to be punched, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of July, A. D. 1895.

CHARLES C. IIOUSEM. \Vitnesses:

JNo. E. PARKER, EDMUND S. MILLS. 

